Nuwakot, October 14
Narayanman Dangol of Betrawati in Ward 10 of Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, has been living in a tent at Swardanda since August 26 after floods forced him from his home. More than a month later, he still does not know how long he will have to stay there.
“The flood came on the 26th. We were scattered for three or four days, and then we started living in tents,” Dangol told Onlinekhabar. “Dashain has arrived, but we are still in tents. It is hot inside during the day, and dew falls at night.”
Around 25 households from Betrawati have set up tents at Swardanda. They are cooking and eating together, sharing the food and utensils available to them.
“We have lentils, salt, oil and rice, as well as cooking utensils,” Dangol said. “We will have to spend Dashain and Tihar crying in tents.”
Many people displaced by floods in Rasuwa who had been staying in holding centres in Nuwakot have since left. Families from Betrawati, however, continue to live in tents.
“We cannot leave our village, and we have nowhere to go and stay with relatives. Those who cannot afford to rent a room for Rs 15,000 are still living in tents,” said local resident Shashi Dangol. “We will stay here until a resettlement package is announced. Some people have also chosen not to take the Rs 15,000 assistance. But the government is also working on a better plan than keeping people in tents.”
According to him, the displaced families have enough food for around six months, so food is not their immediate concern. Their priority is finding a place to live without having to abandon their ancestral land.
“There is no problem with food. We cannot leave our homes and land, and we cannot settle somewhere else. The government should arrange resettlement quickly. The weather is getting colder, and we now need a permanent place to live,” he said.
Some residents of Betrawati have been moving between Batār, Kathmandu and Swardanda, unable to settle in one place.
“I keep going between Kathmandu, Batār and Swardanda. I have no fixed place to stay,” said local resident Ishwar Thapa.
Indramaya Dangol, also from Betrawati, has been moving between Batār and Swardanda. “My son is at Swardanda, while I am in Batar,” she said.
Most people who received the government’s Rs 15,000 assistance have left the holding centres and made their own arrangements. The District Administration Office in Nuwakot confirmed that around 25 households from Betrawati are still living in tents.
“About 25 households are staying in tents. The others have made their own arrangements,” said Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi.
Flood-displaced residents from Rasuwa are also staying in tents in Bidur Municipality-5. More than 380 people from Rasuwa are currently living there, according to Regmi.
“We have arranged relief supplies and tents for them,” he said, adding that official paperwork is being handled by the Rasuwa administration and that a contact office from the district has been set up locally to address their problems.
Discussions are under way on whether the displaced residents from Rasuwa will return to their district or remain in Nuwakot.
“They will decide whether to stay here or return there. That process will be completed soon,” Regmi said.
Meanwhile, five holding centres remain operational in Rasuwa, where 218 people displaced by floods are currently staying, according to the district administration. They are housed at Seeds, Bhimsensthan Secondary School, Komen Secondary School, Lingling Kanig Chholing Monastery and Ganesh Secondary School.
Chief District Officer Kamal Prasad Pandey said Nilkantha Secondary School has also been converted into a hostel to accommodate students, including those displaced by the floods.
“There are five holding centres, and one hostel has been set up,” he said.
Pandey said procedures for temporary and permanent accommodation for displaced families were under way. Local governments have also proposed possible locations for resettlement.
“Discussions are taking place on whether people will stay in temporary accommodation or move to permanent settlements. The local government has also proposed locations. A decision on where they will stay after Dashain will be made,” he said.
